TEHRAN -- The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) is scheduled to air the slavery drama “12 Years a Slave” and space thriller “Gravity”, both big winners at this year’s Academy Awards, during the Iranian New Year holidays that begin on March 21.

“‘12 Years a Slave’ is an appropriate film and also agreeable to our objectives and policies,” IRIB’s Channel 1 Director Mehdi Faraji said during a press conference, which was held on Saturday to announce the channel’s schedule for the Noruz holidays.

“There are two categories of films at Oscars,” he said and added, “one category is dedicated to non-American films, which are judged based on politically biased attitudes, and the other category is allocated to American productions which are less political.”

Directed by Black British filmmaker Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave” won the Academy Award for best picture last week. It also won two other Oscars, including best supporting actress for newcomer Lupita Nyong’o and best adapted screenplay.

“Gravity” from Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron received the most Oscars of this year with seven, including the best director.

Many other foreign productions, including “Mr. Morgan’s Last Love” by director Sandra Nettelbeck, “King of Devil’s Island” by Marius Holst, “Cloud Atlas” by Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski, and will also be broadcast from IRIB’s various channels during the holidays.

Ben Affleck’s Iran hostage drama “Argo”, which won the Oscar for best picture in 2013, was officially viewed as an “anti-Iranian” film in Iran after it premiered in the U.S. in October 2012.

MMS/YAW

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